RILEY & MATT
Picture-perfect destination wedding in Dubrovnik
Matt and Riley’s journey together began in 2016 in a sociology class. Matt, with a bit of strategy, sat next to Riley on the first day, and the rest was history. What started as a great friendship soon blossomed into love. Matthew’s grandfather was born in Hvar and grew up in Dubrovnik so Croatia is very special to them, and they knew from the start that their wedding day should take place in Dubrovnik. Their vision for a dream wedding was somewhere on the water, surrounded by closest friends and family. They wanted an intimate celebration where they knew everyone in attendance, rather than having distant relatives or unfamiliar faces. Once they chose Croatia, they got the best of both worlds. Matt wanted to showcase where his family is from and the history and beauty of the old city of Dubrovnik, combined with Sponza Palace, was the perfect venue for that. Meanwhile, Riley wanted a stunning view of the water, and Hotel Palace delivered exactly what she envisioned. Together, the two venues created the most magical backdrop for our special day.
Riley and Matt have been to Dubrovnik a lot of times and they already knew the hidden gems, so they decided to host a pre wedding beach party at Dance beach. This hidden beach is about 5 minutes west of Old Town. It is one of the oldest beaches in Dubrovnik and is very popular with locals, so it was a great spot to feel and do what locals do. It was a very relaxed afternoon with drinks and finger food celebrating bride and groom with their closest family and friends.
As the wedding day approached, the fashion took over. Matt got a custom black tuxedo from Suit Supply that was made of pure S150’s wool, giving it a sleek and luxurious feel. It featured a custom horse bit brown interior, black satin lapel, and custom engravings adding a unique and personal touch to the design. The combination of materials made it both classic and sophisticated – pairing perfectly with his Rolex and Gucci loafers. His groomsmen were also wearing black tuxes but added a light blue tie to compliment bridesmaids’ dresses and overall looks of the wedding style. Matt and his groomsmen were getting ready at Dubrovnik Palace hotel while Riley and her bridesmaids were getting ready at the luxury villa. It had plenty of space and a stunning ocean view, which made getting ready so much easier and even more special. The spacious setup allowed for a relaxed atmosphere, and the breathtaking views provided the perfect backdrop for the getting ready photos. Wedding photographers made sure to take plenty of pictures outside to capture the incredible scenery!
Recor’s Palace was a perfect spot for the first look, just moment before the beginning of ceremony which took place at Sponza Palace. The photographers had to make a last-minute decision when it unexpectedly started raining, so they quickly chose a new location. It ended up being the perfect spot, and the rain made for even more stunning photos. The moment was truly magical, and we were told that rain brings good luck, so it felt like a sign of something special.
The string quartet was playing ‘’Over the rainbow’’ while Riley was floating down the aisle in a beautiful gown. The first two seats with roses in the first row were left empty honouring the father of the bride and father of the groom who passed away. A symbolic ceremony was held by Alex, friend of the couple who made sure the ceremony was very touching and meaningful.
After the ceremony, guests headed towards Lenga terrace at hotel Palace, where they were greeted with canapés and cocktails, setting the tone for a day full of fun and surprises. The couple wanted to combine beautiful sea landscapes and architecture works of art therefore the symbolic ceremony took place in the Old Town and the reception took place at Vala beach. The venue is located on a beautiful peninsula of Lapad, it is secluded and exclusive with spectacular views of Elaphite islands. The decor at Vala beach was nothing short of cinematic. Combination of high centrepieces featuring white roses, Hydrangeas, Lisianthus, Orchids and lush greenery with luxury chandeliers added to the luxurious looks of the entire wedding setup. The colour palette of the wedding was a blend of ivory, light blue, gold, and some touches of green. These colours were reflected throughout our wedding decor, creating a soft and elegant atmosphere with a little bit of warmth and freshness.
The bride has chosen ivory tablecloths and white charger plates with a gold rim which complimented perfectly the blue napkins with gold cutlery. One of the best moments of the evening was a short entertainment entrance dance of bridesmaids and groomsmen couples. The key moment they’ll always remember from the wedding was Matt and Riley making their grand entrance into the venue. It was surreal to see their vision come to life and to look around and take it all in. The beauty of the venue was breathtaking and made the moment even more unforgettable.
The last couple to enter were of course Riley and Matt who decided to do their first dance just after they entered Vala Beach. Since the reception was taking place outdoors, the first dance took place at sunset making it the prettiest thing to witness as a guest and a wedding planner. For their first dance, the couple chose “You and I” by Rebelution. Every year, it’s a tradition for Riley and Matthew to attend a Rebelution concert, and they both love reggae music. When the album first came out, they listened to this song a lot, and the lyrics always made them picture the day they’d get married. It’s a beautiful song about love and marriage, and it felt like the perfect fit for their first dance.
As day turned to night, the reception began in full swing. A four-course served dinner was complimented with two signature cocktails: Mojito and Paloma. After dinner, the all-night party, with everyone on the dance floor from start to finish was about to start. A sax player added to a high energy already set by a DJ.
The couple: Riley & Matt
Wedding location: Dubrovnik
Ceremony venue: Sponza
Reception and party venue: Vala beach